Geomorphic Variability of the Upper Watauga River: Pre-removal Reference for Ward’s Mill Dam

Keywords: Dam Removal, River Morphology, Tree-rings, North Carolina
Session Type: Virtual Poster Abstract
Day: Saturday
Session Start / End Time: 2/26/2022 09:40 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/26/2022 11:00 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 37

Abstract

While it is known that dams impact a wide variety of environmental factors, there is a need for continuing research on the dynamics of their removal from river systems. This research aims to provide context of the geomorphic conditions of the Watauga River prior to the removal of Ward’s Mill Dam, near Sugar Grove, North Carolina. Field data of pebble counts and cross-sectional and longitudinal surveys were collected prior to the removal of the dam in order to quantify the equilibrium state of the immediate downstream reach of the Watauga river in comparison to two upstream control sites. Exploratory analysis of tree-rings of American Sycamore and Butternut were conducted on a mid-channel bar in one of the survey sites immediately downstream of the dam for dating of bar formation. It is our goal that this research should help provide context to the trajectory of geomorphic change post-removal.